Time and Place | About 8:45 a.m. on my couch
Reading | I’ve been on an awesome little streak of reading books about famous and almost famous women. It started with Helen Rappaport’s The Romanov Sisters, a look at the Romanov family focusing primarily on Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. That was followed by Megan Mayhew Bergman’s new short story collection, Almost Famous Women. I’m working on a post with thoughts on this one, specifically how fiction offers a chance to learn something about these women that nonfiction would miss. And now I’m in the middle of Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation by Judith Mackrel, which has some interesting connections with the other two books. It’s been a fun little reading binge.
Watching | On a whim, I started watching The Tudors on Netflix. It’s pretty absurd — and as far as I can tell, playing awfully fast and loose with historical facts — but it’s mindless enough for watching while I do other things.
Listening | One of my favorite pop culture critics, Linda Holmes, is joining Brian Lehrer of New York Public Radio for a weekly podcast on the final season of Parks and Recreation. Each week they’re bringing in a guest to talk about some of the political stuff in the show, which is such a fun idea. It’s great if you’re a fan of the show.
Recommending | I really liked this piece from Slate — Why It Matters That Wild Wasn’t Nominated for Best Picture. The comments about domestic fiction and the worth of men’s and women’s stories are really spot on, especially in the broader context of the boring Oscar nominations.
Loving | One of my goals for this year is to either exercise or hit my step goal (thanks, FitBit Charge) every day. This has forced me to take some late-evening winter walks, made possible by the amazing winter coat my mom got me for Christmas.
Blogging | Since I was catching up from my weekend away, it was a quiet week on the blog — just some mini-reviews of Sweetland by Michael Crummey (loved) and Descent by Tim Johnston (disliked).
Playing | We had friends over last night and played King of Tokyo — this might be my favorite board game. It’s relatively easy, but also totally goofy. (Here’s a video of a game on TableTop that explains it pretty well).
Anticipating | I’m excited about the AFC and NFC Championship football games today. My team isn’t playing, but I know lots of Packer fans, so I’ll be quietly rooting for them to upset the Seahawks.
Happy Sunday, everyone! What are you reading today?
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My mom recently read a book about Flappers and found it fascinating. I know because she told me all about it. I’ll have to look for that book for her.
Thank you for the rec on the new podcast for Parks & Rec! I love Linda Holmes & Parks and Rec so this is going to be a great combo 🙂 Happy Sunday!
It is a great combination! I’m excited about it as a companion for the last season of the show.
I’ve been on a reading streak myself. I finished three books yesterday (OMG!). Cheers to keeping it up!
I finished The Paying Guests (wow!) yesterday and am starting Mr. Fox today. It’s not a book I’d have picked myself, but I fully trust the Book Riot Quarterly box.
The books in the Quarterly box always look great — I hope you enjoy Mr. Fox!
I love your winter coat – it looks so warm and comfy. Congrats on the walking – the past week was one of the busiest of my year. I didn’t make it to the gym and walking when I got home never crossed my mind. Something to think about in the future.
I also want to read all three of the books you are reading – in the same order. I haven’t had a good reading year so far – almost done with Factory Man. And am also enjoying The Power of Habit.
Enjoy the game. I don’t get to worked up about it, my husband on the other hand is gearing up for a loss so he isn’t too disappointed. In case you forgot we live in Wisconsin.
Honestly? I’m just glad the Packers/Seahawks game was so fun to watch! I know it wasn’t great for Packer fans, but it was really fun.
I’m happy for you on a reading streak, I’ve just been chugging along, not too fantastic, but not awful either. No football here, just some old movies and reading blogs for me.
Have a great week.
Yay for reading streaks! I keep chugging along on books. I’m not reading very quickly but I’ve been reading some great books, so that’s all that matters. The Tudors is not a show you watch for historical accuracy, but it is highly entertaining.
Have a great week!
I would certainly like to read Flappers! I have heard so much good stuff about it. I am not that good at reading about famous people, but I’d like to invest more in such books.
It was an interesting read, especially the ways the women interacted with each other and floated in the same social circles. I really enjoyed it.
Yep. I have a feeling I am going to want all of those books you were binge-reading. I still haven’t got all the books you added to my wish list last year. Go read something bad. :p
I’m glad SOMEONE is on a reading streak! I sure am not. I’m completely obsessed with Wordbrain on my phone. I need to just finish it so I can move on with my life! I need to get back in the game with my Fitbit and get those steps every day. Once we get our dog, that will help!
Yes! Having a dog to take on walks will definitely help getting steps in.
There’s something about January that makes me want to read all of the books. I’ve read a ridiculous number already, including some spectacular non-fiction, so I almost don’t recognize myself. I’ve seen that book on the Romanov sisters somewhere else…it’s very tempting.
I’m hoping to get on an even bigger reading streak in February — it’s such a cold, bleak month, all I want to do is read.
I want to play a game! I am surrounded by non-gaming people in my life, and I love all games – board games, card games, video games, MMORPGs, everything. I am determined to raise my children to like games. 🙂
The boyfriend doesn’t love games, but he likes hanging out with people, so game night is our compromise 🙂
King of Tokyo looks like fun! We’ve been really getting into board games here, and I’m hoping we’ll be able to start a family board game night on Sunday evenings, once I get out of all the deadlines this month.
Read three little books Sunday that have sat in my TBR list for a while. First was “Another Bookstore” which was simply weird: 19 pages of a book about a book about a book… Then Dead Wrong, which was fantastically quirky and last “Killer Cupcakes” by the same author, which…wasn’t.
Today I have memoirs, a book called “The Glassblower” and a few others setting up for the week
I’ve been excited about King of Tokyo ever since I watched the Table Top episode a while ago. Haven’t picked it up yet, but seems right up my alley. Sounds like you had a great game night.
It’s really fun! The game play isn’t difficult, but it offers lots of ways to play and lots of different stratgies.
I didn’t know there was a podcast for Parks & Rec! Subscribing to it immediately 🙂
I just finished Sous Chef and I Am Radar. Now on to Station Eleven!
I’m with you on the BORING Oscars! I admit, I’m not a huge movie buff, but I rarely bother paying attention to the Oscars. I didn’t even bother with the Golden Globes…but, was surprised and excited to see The Affair win Best Drama and Ruth Wilson win Best Actress!
I thought the Golden Globes were a lot of fun, at least in part because the nominees and winners were not just the same old thing over and over again.
King of Tokyo seems like a fun game – I feel out of touch with what games are making their way through board game enthusiasts. It’s not like books, movies or music where it’s fairly low effort to keep up with what’s new and liked.
I have a friend who is really into games, so he’s been introducing me to new ones. Otherwise, I’m totally out of the loop.